Miami’s Tournament Chances

Because Bracketology, like the word itself, is mostly made up, it is hard to attach any worth to ESPN’s projections–but it is still stirring to see the Hurricanes projected as in the tournament as a 12 seed.

After a stretch with six losses in seven games, Miami making the tournament isn’t just possible, it’s believable.

At 5-8 in the conference, winning out would give the Hurricanes the .500 record that they probably need to make the tournament in the brutal ACC, they would be 19-10.

The good news is that the three teams left on the schedule have the three worst records in the conference. The bad news? Miami has the fourth-worst.

Here’s a look at the road ahead:
-At Virginia, who is well on their way to getting coach Dave Leitao fired. They’ve won three ACC games.
-At Georgia Tech, who has lost six straight games and has won one game(!) in conference. They are 10-16 overall and lost to Illinois Chicago and Penn State.
-Home vs. North Carolina State. The Wolfpack are very average, and Miami shouldn’t have a problem at home. The danger is if the Wolfpack win the next three winnable games (Wake Forest, Maryland and Boston College) and at 8-7 in the conference, are playing for Miami’s spot in the last game before the tournament. After facing two teams playing for nothing, Miami might run into a highly motivated NC State team fighting for their tournament lives.

Still, the Hurricanes are in good shape for a tournament bid if they can defeat some of the ACC’s worst. Bracketology has No. 12 Miami playing No. 5 Arizona State (Call it The Dennis Erickson Bowl).